NCR Staff

Pope's quotes: "If the outbound journey is letting my heart be wounded by the suffering of others, the trip through my heart is recognising my sin, my suffering, my lowliness and feeling I have been forgiven and have received the Lord's mercy, then the return journey begins, from the heart to the hands."

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of November 2019

Pope's quotes: "Some of you might ask me, 'Father, how does one feel mercy and not pity?' Well, first we need to ask for the grace to have mercy."

Your thoughts: Last week, NCR posted a piece by Don Clemmer on the role of eulogies at Catholic funerals in the Chicago Archdiocese. The revised guidelines were released by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich in November. 

Pope's quotes: "Mercy is that outbound trip of misery to my heart, borne by my heart, that moves my heart and that, at times, moves it to the point that the heart becomes like a compass at the North Pole, that is unable to stop, for what it feels."

Your thoughts: Last month, NCR published reader responses to two opinion pieces on Latin Mass. More readers wrote in after this first batch appeared.

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of October 2019.

Pope's quotes: "The mission of the pastors is to help the flock entrusted to them, that it be always out-going, on the move to proclaim the joy of the Gospel; not closed in tight circles, in ecclesial 'microclimates' which would take us back to the days of clouds and thick darkness."

Pope's quotes: "Thus, while reminding us of the will of the Lord to gather the flock and go in search of the lost sheep, the staff also seems to show us the central content of the love of God in Jesus crucified and risen, the Lamb sacrificed and living."

Your thoughts: National Catholic Reporter followed the U.S. bishops' conference fall assembly closely as usual, with national correspondent Heidi Schlumpf and columnist Michael Sean Winters representing our publication in Baltimore. 

Pope's quotes: "It is a great vocation, that of working as instruments of communion always and everywhere. This means promoting at the same time the unity of the Christian family and the unity of the human family."

Your thoughts: The possibility of married priests and women deacons were discussed numerous times during the synod on the Amazon last month and the ideas are still floating around the church.

Pope's quotes: "But we have the firm belief that God loves to dwell among us, who are His flock and precious treasure."

Your thoughts: Two recent opinion pieces at NCR have caused a stir within our readership. One says the traditional Latin Mass is toxic, while the other proclaims its beauty. 

Pope's quotes: "The challenge is that of maintaining the honesty of sport, of protecting it from manipulations and commercial abuse."

Your thoughts: When Former Vice President Joe Biden attended Mass at St. Anthony Church Oct. 27, he was refused the Eucharist by the pastor. That snub has stirred up a recurring debate in the church.

Your thoughts: NCR readers are welcome to join the conversation and send us a letter to the editor. Below is a sampling of letters received in the month of September 2019.

Pope's quotes: "Everybody is aware of the enthusiasm with which children will play with a rugged old deflated ball in the suburbs of some great cities or the streets of small towns."

Pope's quotes: "Firstly, during my life as a priest and as a bishop I have accompanied people with homosexual tendencies or practices. I have accompanied them and brought them closer to the Lord. Some cannot, but I have accompanied them and never abandoned anyone."